Mechanism for marking containers



April 13, 1943. ca. J. HUNTLEY ET AL MECHANISM FOR MARKING CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm Router mm W FTaLK April 1943. G. J. HUNTLEY ETAL 2,316,517-

MECHANISM FOR MARKING CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a m w J 8, m 0 w Edmla R0 Zfier,

April 13, 1943. G.'J. HUNTLEY ETAL 2,315,517

MECHANISM FOR MARKING CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A 4/4 //7 GeoyeJ/iupiky Zdm'm fial/er' Patented Apr. 13,1943

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANISM FOR MARKING CONTAINERS George J. Huntley and Edwin Rolker, Baltimore,

Md., assignors to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism for marking containers and, more particularly, to

the embossing of containers to indicate the date of filling the same.

It is usual to mark metal containers to indicate the date upon which the container is filled. For example, if a claim for damages is based on an assertion with regard to the time that a can has been packed, the actual date of packing can be ascertained by the marking thereon. It is desirable that a filling date marking upon a can be applied in code, otherwise the marking might be changed by a purchaser.

Heretofore, it has been usual to apply the marking in ink to the can body or label or to emboss a mark upon one end of the can. If the marking is applied in ink, it is apt to be obliterated during handling of the can. Also, an ink marking must ordinarily be applied to the label, with the possibility that the design of the latter will be marred by the printing thereon. Obviously, the marking will be lost if the label is torn or displaced. The other of the two usual methods, that is, the method involving embossing a mark upon one end of the can, is not of general application since it can only be used with cans having two fiat ends, one of which is applied ner that the markings can be easily read by the use of a simple gauge.

Heretofore, markings have been applied comprising code letters and numerals. Such a sysafter the can has been filled. The last-applied end is usually marked before it is delivered to the can body. A disadvantage of applying marks to a can end before the end is applied to the can body is that special handling must be given the can ends in marking them, instead of simply removing them fromthe stack in which they are received at a packing plant and directly applying them to the can bodies. In any event, this method cannot be used with cans having a cone end adapted to receive a crown cap, for example, beer cans, because such cans have both ends already applied thereto when they are delivered to the brewer or other packer.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a can marking mechanism which is applicable to all types of metal containers and whereby markingscan be permanently applied without any special handling of any portion of the containers.

The present mechanism is preferably of such design that it can be positioned along a conveyor adjacent the filling machine and performs its marking function in such a way that movement of the cans is not retarded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for marking containers in such mantem necessitates that books be kept to record the code marking used upon any particular date. The markings applied by the present method and mechanism are preferably such that their spacing is varied in a predetermined manner from day to day. As a result, the date of filling of any container can be ascertained simply by applying a suitable gauge thereto.

The mechanism of the present invention preferably applies the marking to one seam of a can. As a result, the mechanism can operate upon either fiat topped or cone topped cans during the normal course of their movement adjacent a filling machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism of the present invention with portions broken away.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the mechanism on the line' 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the embossing device.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a can having markings applied thereto, and

Figure 8 is a plan view of a gauge for reading the marking applied by the present invention, with a portion broken away.

The machine of the present invention comprises a base frame 9 including legs or other supporting elements, not shown, and end members It! and H and longitudinally extending members l2 and I3 connecting the two end members.

A series of horizontally extending plates comprising a container supporting means l4 extends between the end members l0 and II, these plate the outfeed end of the machine. A fiat strip l1 is supported on the upper surface of the first plate 15, extending from the infeed end thereof to the inner end of the second plate l6. As will be hereinafter noted, the containers to be marked are rotated on their vertical axes during and prior to application of marks thereto and at such time the cans will be positioned upon the narrow supporting strip IT. The narrowness of the strip l1 reduces the area of frictional contact at the lower end of the can and hence permits the can to rotate quite freely.

The mechanism of the present invention is preferably positioned immediately adjacent the filling machine and the upper surface of the strip ll of the container supporting means M will be flush with both the filling machine work table and a conveyor, the filling machine being adjacent the other end. Obviously, if it is desired to space the present mechanism from the filling machine, conveyors may be positioned at eachend of the machine of the invention.

A pair of brackets 18 extend inwardly from the longitudinal member l3 and one of these brackets has a vertical shaft l9 journaled therein driven by a suitable motor, not shown. The other bracket l8 has a vertically extending pin |9a mounted in the same. Fittings 20 extend inwardly from the brackets 8 as best shown in Figure 1 and the inner ends of the two fittings are joined by horizontal bars 2|. superposed grooved pulleys 22 are fixed on shaft I9 and are rotatably mounted on pin l9a. Belts 23 move about the pulleys so that a pair of horizontally moving belts, one positioned above the other, will be provided. As best shown in Figure 3, the lower belt moves at such a height with respect to the upper surface of the narrow container supporting strip I that its inner run will engage a can C immediately above the lower seam of the can while the upper belt 23 will engage the can near its top seam. The inner horizontal bars 2| connecting the fittings 20 carry substantially U- shaped strips 24 along which the upper runs of the belts 23 move, the strips 24 assuring that the belts will have firm contact with the cans. The inner runs of the belts move in the direction of movement of the cans, indicated by the arrow in Figure 1.

Embossing means is positioned on the opposite side of the container supporting element II from the belts 23. The embossing means is supported in a frame or housing 35 bolted beneath the lower surface of ahorizontal flange 28 which extends rearwardly from an upright plate 3| extending parallel with the container supporting means I4 and the inner run of the belts 23. Plate 3| is bolted at its ends to brackets 30 secured to the longitudinal member l2. Intermediate its length, the plate 3| is recessed as indicated at 32, the recessed portion extending from the upper to the lower edge of the plate and along a substantial length of the plate. A heavy fabric or fiber pad 33 having marked frictional qualities is secured in the recess 32. As best shown in Figure 3, the plate 3| and frictional strip 33 are of sufficient width in a vertical plane to contact with a substantial portion of the side of a can, with the lower edge of the plate and strip spaced some what above the lower. seam of the can. The frame or housing 35 is of substantially the same length as the frictional strip 33.

As shown in Figures 2 to 6, the housing 35 is provided with a horizontally extending slot 36 in which a series of embossing dies is adjustably secured. Slot 36 is formed by an inwardly facing recess 31 and a rearwardly facing recess 38 both of substantial depth vertically and also transversely of housing 35. These recesses are joined by a slot 39 so that shoulders 31a and 33a are formed at the. respective interiors of the two recesses.

. Referring to the central movable die element 40 illustrated in Figure 4 and which may be termed a "ten-day die, it will be observed that this die includes a rearwardly extending pin 4| which is secured in a block 42. Block 42 is of such a size that it will have a firm sliding fit in the inner recess 3] with its rear end in contact with the shoulders 31a. A stud 43- is threaded in block 42 and extends through the slot 39 and thence into a carrier 44 of H-shaped form as shown in Figure 5, and including upper and lower arms 45 and 46, respectively, projecting from each end thereof and joined at their central portion by the bridging portion 41. The stud 43 extends through an aperture 43 in the bridging portion 4]. Stud 43 carries a washer having a diametrically extending slot 5| therein adapted to fit upon a rearwardly projecting shoulder 52, which extends longitudinally and centrally of the bridging portion 41. best shown in Figure 5, vertically. spaced continuations of the shoulder 52 extend along the lower and upper edges, re spectively, of the arms 45 and 46 of the carrier 44. The lower portion of washer 5|! bears upon the rear face of carrier 35, as shown in Figure 6, and its upper portion is provided with an inwardly projecting tooth 55 which is adapted to seat in one of a series of indexed notches 56 formed in an index plate 58 secured to the upper rear face of housing 35. A knurled thumb nut 51 is threaded upon the rearward end of stud 43. By the above mounting of the die element 40, it will be obvious that the die 40, as well as the carrier 44, can be moved longitudinally of the housing 35 so as to position the tooth 55 in a selected notch of the central group of notches 56. When the nut 51 is then tightened, every element of the die supporting arrangement described immediately above, will be firmly locked .in the housing 35. That is, the block 42 which directly carries the die element will be firmly secured against vertical movement by reason of its close fit in the recess 31, and it will also be secured against twisting in a horizontal plane, due to the fact that it is firmly mounted upon the stud 43, which, in turn, is tightly secured in the'carrier 44. Since the carrier 44 is of substantial length longitudinally of the housing 35, all possibility of horizontal twisting movement of the die element 40 will be obviated. As appears from Figure 4, the die element 40 is relatively narrow in a horizontal plane and it is therefore desirable to take particular precaution to prevent horizontal twisting movement of the same. The necessity of the narrowness of die element 40 and its supporting block 4| is necessary because of the fact that the other die elements hereinafter described must have a wider range of movement and yet must not be too widely spaced at any time from the central die element if the marks are to be applied within a reasonable area of the circumference of a can seam.

A second die element 60, hereinafter referred.

to as the mont die, is mounted in the recess 31 at one side of the ten day die 40. Die element 60 includes a rearwardly projecting pin 6| which extends into the inward leg 62 0f an angled block 63. The other leg of block 63 has a stud 64 extending rearwardly therefrom and through the slot 39, and thence through the slot 65 formed between the pair of spaced arms 46 and 46 of carrier 44. Rearwardly of the carrier 44 stud 64 has a washer 66 mounted thereon, which washer has a diametrically extending groove therein, adapted to fit over and span the spaced portions of shoulder 52 which extend along the slot 65. It is to be noted that the diametrical groove in washer 66 is of sufficient axial depth that its rearward wall 661; will have a sufficient clearance from the rearward surface of ridge 52 that the carrier 44 can be moved beneath washer 66 even when .the latter is clamped tightly against the rear face of housing 35 by the thumb nut 65. By this latter arrangement, the central die element 46 can be adjusted longitudinally of the housing. 35 without the necessity of loosening the thumb nut 61. by means of which die element 66 ing 35.

Within the angle formed by the legs of block 63, there is mounted a block 69 which has a die element secured therein. Die element 10 is the year die, and since it need only be changed at yearly intervals, block 69 is locked in the inner portion of recess .31 by machine screws 1| extending through the bottom wall of the carrier as indicated in Figure 6. The angularform of the block 63 which supports month" die 66 permits the die 66 to be closely spaced with respect to ten day" die 46, but without the possibility of the thumb nut 61 of die element 60 coming into contact with the thumb nut 51 of die element 40.

On the opposite side of die element 40 from die elements 66 and 16, there is provided a die element 80 which may be termed a day die. This die element includes a rearwardly extending pin 82 which is secured in the inwardly projecting leg 83 of an angled block 86: A stud 85 extends rearwardly from block 84 through the slot 65a in carrier 46 and has a washer 66 mounted thereon of the same form as the washer-66. That is, it is of such form that its extreme upper and lower portions will bear on the rear face of housing 35 and its diametrical groove will engage the upper and lower faces of the continuation of shoulder 52, but without preventing the central die element 66 and the carrier 34 from being moved beneath the same. A thumb nut 88 is provided on the extreme rearward end of stud 85 to permit the same to be locked in the position described above.

A block 96 is mounted in the recess 31 within the angle formed by the angle block 84. Block 96 limits the right-hand movement (Figure 4) of block 84, and also serves as an abutment to prevent the angled block from having any twisting movement. The block 69 which carries the year die 10 serves the same function for the other angled block 63.

The day die 60, the ten day" die 40, and the month die 66 are each provided with a forwardly extending tang, as best shown in Figure 4 and a tooth is formed on the washer of each of these dies for alignment with the corresponding index notches in plate 58. The

is secured in the hous-.

66 would be moved in the slot 65 to position it according to the proper month, ten day die 46 would be positioned according to whether the date to be marked uponthe cans was in the first, 5 second, third or fourth ten days within the month, using the zero marking on plate 58 for the first ten days. If desired, the zero marking could be used for the first nine days, and the ,1, 2 and 3 markings could be used in beginning at the tenth, twentieth and thirtleth days of 'a month, respectively. It is to be noted that the thirty-first day of a month is not within the first three ten-day periods within the month, and hence a fourth ten-day marking or [5 spacing must at least be provided for that day. The day die 80 would be properly positioned in one of the ten notches at the right hand portion of the indexing plate 58.

In the operation of the machine the cans will be delivered to the left-hand portion of the machine (Figure 1), and will immediately move between the plate 3| and the moving belts 23 with the result that the cans will rotate in a W counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. Just before the lower seam of a can comes into contact with the die tang 86 at the left of Figure 2, the body of the can will contact with the frictional pad 33, so that during its entire movement along and in contact with the various die tangs, the can will be rotated at a constant speed by the belts 23, insuring that the indentations or embossings placed upon the lower seam of the can by the dies will be linearly spaced in exact accordance with the 5 lineal spacings of the die tangs along die carrier 35. It will be understood that the spacing between belts 23 and the plate 3! will be such that the cans will be firmly pressed against the die tangs. Also, the vertical spacing of the belts will insure that the cans will not become tilted. The belts 23 are formed of a material which will exert a firm frictional grip upon the cans, so that there can be no slippage between the cans and the belt. When the can has moved past the dies, it will bear marks, as indicated in Figure '7.

The use of a narrow stationary support I4 further insures that bodily rotation of the cans will not be retarded in any way and that the proper spacing of the marks will be obtained. For examan pie, any moving conveyor formed of flexible material would retard rotation, and the same would be true of a link belt conveyor. The present machine is therefore peculiarly efficient for providing easily readable, code spaced, markings upon a container.

It will be noted that because the die tangs are critically spaced, i. e. spaced according to an identifying code, their spacing is not regular. Hence, it is highly important that frictional elements such as the belts 23 and the pad 33 be provided to insure regular rotation of the cans. It is also desirable that a non-frictional support I4 be provided so that rotation of the cans will not be retarded. Otherwise, each die tang would to tend to interrupt regular rotation of the cans and the markings would not be applied to the cans in accordance with the identifying code.

In order to read the marks applied to a can as illustrated in Figure 7, the gauge 95 illustrated in Figure 8 would be used. Thi gauge is preferably of plate form, with a superposed plate 96 at one end thereof having one edge arcuate, the radius of the arc corresponding to the radius of the lower seam of the can C with which the gauge 7 is to be used. The gauge bears markings similar to those applied to the index plate 58 of the machine, including a marking 90b corresponding to the fixed tang 90 of "year die 10. -In using the gauge to read the date of filling thegauge mark 9% would be aligned with the marking 90a on the can, which would, of course, in every instance be the first mark, reading in a counterclockwise direction about the can. With these marks on the can and gauge thus aligned, the year of filling would be known by the alignment of the mark 9la on the can with the year marking Sla on the gauge. It will be understood that a number of year markings would be provided upon the gauge and that each such marking would bear indicia indicating a certain year. The other markings upon the can, namely, the markings 60a, 40a and 8011 would then be opposite the indicia on the gauge respectively indicating months, groups of ten days, and days. For example, these three markings on the can illustrated in Figure 7 would mean that the can was filled on the 8th of April, that is, during the fourth month and upon the eighth day of the zero or first group of ten days in that month.

From the above, it will be appreciated that the present machine and 'method insures that cans or other metal containers can be clearly marked without retarding the movement of the cans in any way and that the markings applied to the can will be entirely permanent without in any way marring the appearance of the can.

It will be understood that the terminology used in the specification is for the purpose of description, the scope of the invention being indicated in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a mechanism for embossing identifying markings upon cylindrical metal containers, a horizontal and stationary support upon which upright containers may slide and rotate, a moving container engaging belt at one side of and above said support, critically spaced embossing means at the other side of said support and along which the containers are adapted to be rolled by said belt to receive markings spaced according to an identifying code, said embossing means being immediately above said support, and a fixed element above said embossing means and directly opposite said belt, said element having frictional qualities to insure that the containers will rotate on their vertical axes along said embossin means in synchronism with said belt.

2. In a mechanism for embossing identifyin markings upon cylindrical metal containers, a guideway for containers, means for moving and rotating a container through said guideway, one wall of said guideway having a longitudinal slot therein, a plurality of elements mounted in said slot and having embossing dies formed on their ends facing into the guideway, an H-shaped slide including slotted portions and an intermediate bridging portion slidably mounted in the slot, one of said die elements being mounted entirely in the bridging portion of the slide and the other die elements being mounted in the slotted portions of the slide.

3. In a mechanism for embossing identifying markings upon cylindrical metal containers, a guideway for containers, means for moving and rotating a container through said guideway, one wall of said guideway having a longitudinal slot therein, a plurality of elements mounted in said slot and having embossing dies formed on their ends facing into the guideway, an H-shaped slide including slotted portions and an intermediate bridging portion slidably mounted in the slot, one of said die elements being mounted entirely in the bridging portion of the slide and the other die elements being mounted in the slotted portions of the slide, the last-named die elements being angled toward said first-named die element at their ends adjacent said guideway.

4. In a mechanism for embossing identifying markings upon cylindrical metal containers, a horizontal and stationary support upon which upright containers may slide and rotate, a moving container engaging belt at one side of and above said support, critically spaced embossing means at the other side of said support and along which the containers are adapted to be rolled by said belt to receive markings spaced according to an identifying code, said embossing means being above said support, and a fixed element vertically spaced with respect to said embossing means and directly opposite said belt, said element having frictional qualities to insure that the containers will rotate on their vertical axes along said embossing means in synchronism with said belt.

5. In a mechanism for embossing identifying markings upon cylindrical metal containers, a guideway for containers, means for moving and rotating a container through said guideway, one wall of said guideway having a longitudinal slot therein, a plurality of elements mounted in said slot and having embossing dies formed on their ends facing into the guideway, a slide including a slotted portion and a bridging portion slidably mounted in the slot, one of said die elements being mounted entirely in the bridging portion of the slide and the other die element being mounted in the slotted portion of the slide.

6. In a mechanism for embossing identifying markings upon cylindrical metal containers, a guideway for containers, means for moving and rotating a container through said guideway, one wall of said guideway having a longitudinal slot therein, a plurality of elements mounted in said slot and having embossing dies formed on their ends facing into the guideway, a slide including a slotted portion and a bridging portion slidably mounted in the slot, one of said die elements being mounted entirely in the bridging portion of the slide and the other die element being mounted in the slotted portion of the slide, the last-named die element being angled towards said first-named die element at its end adjacent said guideway.

7. In a mechanism for embossing identifying markings upon cylindrical metal containers, a guideway for containers, means for moving and rotating a container through said guideway, one wall of said guideway having a longitudinal slot therein, a plurality of elements mounted in said slot and having embossing dies formed on their ends facing into the guideway, a slide including a slotted portion and a bridging portion slidably mounted in the slot, one of said die elements being mounted entirely in the bridging portion of the slide and the other die element being mounted in the slotted portion of the slide, the last-named die element being angled towards said first-named die element at its end adjacent said guideway, and a block secured in the slot of said guideway wall within the argled portion of said last-named die element, said block having a third die element rigid therewith.

GEORGE J. HUNTLEY. EDWIN ROLKER. 

